Ädi-madhyÄvasÄneá¹£u
vairÄgyÄkhyÄna-saá¹yutam
hari-lÄ«lÄ-kathÄ-vrÄtÄ-
má¹›tÄnandita-sat-suram
sarva-vedÄnta-sÄraá¹ yad
brahmÄtmaikatva-laká¹£aṇam
vastv advitÄ«yaá¹ tan-niá¹£á¹haá¹
kaivalyaika-prayojanam
Ädi - in the beginning; madhya - the middle; avasÄneá¹£u - and the end; vairÄgya - concerning renunciation of material things; ÄkhyÄna - with narrations; saá¹yutam - full; hari-lÄ«lÄ - of the pastimes of Lord Hari; kathÄ-vrÄta - of the many discussions; amá¹›ta - by the nectar; Änandita - in which are made ecstatic; sat-suram - the saintly devotees and demigods; sarva-vedÄnta - of all the VedÄnta; sÄram - the essence; yat - which; brahma - the Absolute Truth; Ätma-ekatva - in terms of nondifference from the spirit soul; laká¹£aṇam - characterized; vastu - the reality; advitÄ«yam - one without a second; tat-niá¹£á¹ham - having that as its prime subject matter; kaivalya - exclusive devotional service; eka - the only; prayojanam - ultimate goal.
From beginning to end, the ÅšrÄ«mad-BhÄgavatam is full of narrations that encourage renunciation of material life, as well as nectarean accounts of Lord Hari’s transcendental pastimes, which give ecstasy to the saintly devotees and demigods. This BhÄgavatam is the essence of all VedÄnta philosophy because its subject matter is the Absolute Truth, which, while nondifferent from the spirit soul, is the ultimate reality, one without a second. The goal of this literature is exclusive devotional service unto that Supreme Truth.
VairÄgya, renunciation, means giving up everything that has no relation with the Absolute Truth. Saintly devotees and demigods are enthused by the nectar of the Lord’s spiritual pastimes, which are the essence of all Vedic knowledge. Vedic knowledge elaborately negates the ultimate reality of material things by emphasizing their temporary, fleeting existence. The ultimate goal is vastu, the factual substance, which is advitÄ«yam, one without a second. That unique Absolute Truth is a transcendental person far beyond the mundane categories and characteristics of personality found in our pale material world. Thus the ultimate goal of ÅšrÄ«mad-BhÄgavatam is to train the sincere reader in love of Godhead. Lord Kṛṣṇa is supremely lovable because of His eternal, transcendental qualities. The beauty of this world is a dim reflection of the unlimited beauty of the Lord. Without compromise, ÅšrÄ«mad-BhÄgavatam persistently declares the glories of the Absolute Truth and is therefore the supreme spiritual literature, awarding a full taste of the nectar of love of Kṛṣṇa in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
